Vehicle with remote-controlled operating mode

Abstract

A vehicle logistic system provides remote operation of self-propelled vehicles in the absence of a human driver. The logistic system operates with a vehicle which includes an accelerator pedal operatively connected to a longitudinal motion controller, a brake pedal operatively connected to the longitudinal motion controller, a steering wheel operatively connected to a lateral motion controller, and an automated vehicle processing module operatively connected to the longitudinal motion controller and to the lateral motion controller. The vehicle is configured to operate in different operating modes. The operating modes include a regular mode and a remote-controlled mode. The automated vehicle processing module is configured to control the longitudinal motion and lateral motion of the vehicle based on vehicle motion instructions received wirelessly from a server while the vehicle is operating in the remote control mode.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A logistic system, comprising:
 a vehicle having
 an accelerator pedal operatively connected to a longitudinal motion controller, 
 a brake pedal operatively connected to the longitudinal motion controller, 
 a steering wheel operatively connected to a lateral motion controller, and 
 an automated vehicle processing module operatively connected to the longitudinal motion controller and to the lateral motion controller, 
 wherein the vehicle is configured to operate in different operating modes, the operating modes including a regular mode and a remote-controlled mode; 
   a server wirelessly communicating with the automated vehicle processing module; and   a stationary sensor operatively connected to the server, the sensor having a field of view which includes a path of the vehicle,   wherein the server is configured
 to processes data received from the stationary sensor and determine a position of the vehicle based on the data received from the stationary sensor, 
 to determine a presence of objects within the path of the vehicle, and 
 to communicate vehicle motion instructions to the automated vehicle processing module, and 
   wherein the automated vehicle processing module is configured to control the longitudinal motion and lateral motion of the vehicle based on the vehicle motion instructions received from the server while the vehicle is operating in the remote control mode.   
     
     
         2 . The logistic system as in  claim 1 ,
 wherein the vehicle motion instructions include distance information, and   wherein the vehicle follows the vehicle motion instructions by controlling the vehicle's speed, and   wherein the vehicle determines the vehicle's position while following the vehicle motion instruction by evaluating at least one dead reckoning sensor.   
     
     
         3 . The logistic system as in  claim 1 ,
 wherein the stationary sensor is attached to a ceiling structure of an ocean ferry or a railcar.   
     
     
         4 . The logistic system as in  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle motion instructions cause the vehicle to move from an area proximal to the end of a vehicle assembly line to a parking area within a vehicle assembly plant. 
     
     
         5 . The logistic system as in  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle motion instructions cause the vehicle to move self-propelled through a car wash facility. 
     
     
         6 . A vehicle, comprising:
 an accelerator pedal operatively connected to a longitudinal motion controller;   a brake pedal operatively connected to the longitudinal motion controller;   a steering wheel operatively connected to a lateral motion controller; and   an automated vehicle processing module operatively connected to the longitudinal motion controller and to the lateral motion controller,   wherein the vehicle is configured to operate in different operating modes, the operating modes including a regular mode and a remote-controlled mode, and   wherein the automated vehicle processing module is configured to control the longitudinal motion and lateral motion of the vehicle based on vehicle motion instructions received wirelessly from a server while the vehicle is operating in the remote control mode.   
     
     
         7 . The vehicle as in  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a longitudinally arranged camera having a field of view which includes a portion of a surface on which the vehicle is moving; and   an image processing module operatively connected to the camera, the image processing module being configured to determine, by evaluation of images captured by the camera, a position of the vehicle relative to a visible structure or marking on the surface.   
     
     
         8 . The vehicle as in  claim 7 , wherein the visible structure or marking is a taxiway centerline marking or a longitudinal structure within a railcar. 
     
     
         9 . The vehicle as in  claim 6 ,
 wherein the vehicle is configured to enable a function while in remote controlled mode that is not being executed while in regular mode, and   wherein the vehicle is configured to suppress a function while in remote controlled mode that is being executed while in regular mode.   
     
     
         10 . The vehicle as in  claim 6 ,
 wherein the vehicle is configured to not travel further than a predetermined distance and/or not longer than for a predetermined time after receiving a vehicle motion instruction.   
     
     
         11 . The vehicle as in  claim 6 ,
 wherein the vehicle is configured to stop when communication with the server is lost.   
     
     
         12 . The vehicle as in  claim 6 ,
 wherein the vehicle is configured to transition from the remote control mode to the regular mode when the brake pedal is activated.